Vocational Astrology: The Key to Revealing Your Ideal Career Direction

Astrology has many factions and focuses. The planetary energies and their placements can be interpreted to reveal health issues, ideal relationships, and to anticipate how these energies can impact your life. Astrology is a complex system of metaphysics that requires a lifetime of study to truly master. With each new piece of knowledge learned, more layers are discovered ripe for analysis. Its complexity allows for myriad opportunities for interpretation. That is the art and the science of it, all based on the perspective and level of understanding of the astrologer.

In this article, the focus will be on vocational astrology, the indicators that reveal your ideal career, purpose, and work in this lifetime. I write from the perspective of the Occult Astrologer. My underlying philosophy is that as we come closer to self-mastery, we have the ability to overcome the challenges we came with into this life as revealed by the natal chart. Hence, whatever we uncover in this process is not written in stone; you have the ability to create your destiny.

Key points on the natal chart

First we begin with a natal chart. This is the map of the energies that came with you the day you were born. The basic information needed for an accurate chart is your date of birth, your exact time of birth, and your place of birth. The time is important since this gives you the ascendant or rising sign. Many people do not have a record or knowledge of their exact birth time, and so there is a process called chart rectification that uses major events in the person’s life to determine the time of birth. If you do not know your time of birth, then use 12 pm (noon).

While there are many advanced ways to enhance chart interpretation, we will begin with the three basic elements to all astrology charts: the planet in a zodiac sign and which house they fall into. The planet indicates the energies being used, the zodiac sign shows how that energy is used or expressed, and the house points to what aspect of life on which it is focused.

To simplify the information, daily or weekly horoscopes focus on the Sun sign. These are basically useless if you are seeking guidance. Most people know their Sun sign, but this is only part of the picture. The Sun indicates your inner purpose and what drives you. Unless you know which house it sits in, you don’t know on what aspect of your life it will make the greatest impact.

Your first task is to run your natal chart (there are many free chart sites) and see which house your sun is in. Then interpret its position according to this basic house outline:

1st House: Self, Physical Body, Early Environment

2nd House: Money, Earning Ability, Values

3rd House: Communication, Siblings

4th House: Home, Source of Stability

5th House: Entertainment, Social Life, Pleasures, Children

6th House: Work, Health, Service

7th House: Partnerships, Public Relations, Other People

8th House: Death, Rebirth, Regeneration, Sex, Transformation

9th House: Philosophy, Religion, Higher Education, Law

10th House: Career, Reputation, Status

11th House: Hopes, Wishes, Friends, Desires

12th House: Limitations, Self-undoing, Secret Enemies, Challenges

There have been volumes written about the houses and what they represent, so some books you have may expand upon or contradict the meanings above. The key is to stay open to the interpretation that makes the most sense to you and the one that feels right.

Since we are focusing on vocation, it is important to start with your purpose. See if you can put together a statement that shows how your inner purpose is reflected by your Sun Sign (Capricorn, Pisces, etc.) and where it sits on the chart. For example, if your Sun is in Gemini in the Third House of communication, this is a strong indicator that your focus is on effective communication and, depending on the sign at your Midheaven (top center of the chart), this may be your ideal role in the work environment, for you probably have a natural gift for oral and written communication.

The Midheaven

The main career point on the natal chart is the Midheaven. The sign that is at the very top of your chart on the cusp of the 10th house is a primary indicator of the type of career focus you could have. The Midheaven, otherwise known as the Medium Coeli (MC), is at the noon position, the highest point in the chart. This is why it points to the highest aspiration of the native, i.e., the person whose chart is being read. Other chart data indicates how this career or aspiration would manifest and under what conditions, but that is for another time.

The sign of the Midheaven gives us a clue as to the ideal career choice or the direction toward which the native has natural tendencies. Here are some guidelines you can use. As always, when interpreting a chart, incorporate what you feel a particular sign represents; go with what your inner guidance tells you is accurate.

Aries: With this sign at the MC, the native needs a career that allows a great deal of freedom and the ability to take independent action. Aries MC makes for a person that is great at initiating action, makes for a good leader, and could be successful as an entrepreneur. This is the sign of a risk taker and pioneer.

Taurus: This sign promotes the need for security. The native tends to be stable, dependable, and persistent. Endurance is a trait of this MC. A Taurus Midheaven will be drawn to work in hands-on professions involving the earth (landscaping, for example), the arts (sculpting, music, design), or the home (real estate, building, decorating).

Gemini: This MC promotes the desire to communicate in all forms. There is speed of action in the chosen work. They need variety and stimulation. Working in sales, writing, teaching, and anything communication-oriented would be good career choices.

Cancer: The Cancer Midheaven is drawn to nurturing, family-oriented work environments with a focus on making others feel safe and secure. Cancer careers may include the healthcare field (nursing, home health care aid), social work, child care, or any profession that makes people feel welcome and cared for.

Leo: With Leo at the MC, the native seeks pleasure and power in the work. They like lots of attention. They are drawn to any work that puts the spotlight on them, such as acting, performing arts, the fashion industry, and public leadership or government roles.

Virgo: The Virgo MC seeks perfection in the work and is likely to possess or develop technical skills. This native may be drawn to the care and healing of the body. Any vocation requiring a detail-oriented approach would be suitable for the person with this Midheaven sign.

Libra: Librans are impartial observers, capable of compromise to restore harmony. This MC is well served by vocations in the legal profession or mediation. They possess the gifts of diplomacy and peacemaking.

Scorpio: The Scorpio MC is secretive, possesses powerful emotion, and promotes transformation. It is also a sign of death, making the funeral industry a likely occupation. Scorpio represents that which is hidden, so any vocation that seeks to uncover secrets such as forensics, research, mining, archeology, and psychotherapy would be natural pursuits.

Sagittarius: Truth seeking, justice-oriented, freedom loving, and able to see the big-picture the Sag MC requires flexibility in the work environment. They would be happy in the travel industry, teaching, the space industry, or in a religious vocation.

Capricorn: This MC is achievement oriented and is able to create frameworks and structures. This is an organizing sign, capable of handling big responsibility and taking their work very seriously. They make good entrepreneurs, leaders, farmers, engineers, and sculptors.

Aquarius: The Aquarius MC has a strong sense of individuality, has a creative intellect, and is interested in humanitarian pursuits. They are drawn to working with groups and any occupation requiring an innovative approach.

Pisces: The Pisces MC is the realm of psychism, escapism, altered states of consciousness, and unusual ways of perceiving the world. This is the sign of poets, writers, winemaking, professional psychics, and the music industry.

These basic descriptions of the signs and their effect on the Midheaven will serve as a starting point for your personal explorations into your own Midheaven. Continuing with our example of the Sun in Gemini in the Third House, let’s say the MC is Sagittarius. This combination would give the propensity for a talented lecturer or professor. It may also indicate a career in public relations.

Practice putting together the Sun, its sign, and where it falls with the Midheaven and try different ways to combine the information. See what feels right to you. Your astrology chart provides a wonderful opportunity for personal insight. As with any other tool such as tarot, allow your intuition to guide you to the answer you seek. Happy interpreting!

# # #

Diane Wing, M.A. is the founder of Wing Academy of Unfoldment, host of Wing Academy Radio, author of six books, and an experienced guide for those ready to see things differently. When it comes to getting unstuck and feeling great about life, her 9-word philosophy is: Let go. Be grateful. Stay open. See the magick. Find out more at www.WingAcademy.com